NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- The 2022 regular season will come to a close on Saturday evening at Captains Field as the top-ranked Christopher Newport women's soccer team welcomes Salisbury University (8-8-1) for a 5:00 p.m. kickoff. The Captains (14-0-1) will put their undefeated record on the line against the Sea Gulls following a special pre-game ceremony honoring ten CNU seniors playing in their final home regular season game. 

This week, the CNU women's soccer team has been off since last Saturday when they defeated Mary Washington, 1-0, for the second straight game. The win extended the nation's longest active run of consecutive games without a loss to 38 straight, ranking as the seventh longest run in Division III history. In all of NCAA soccer, including Division I, II, and III, it ranks as the 19th longest streak of all-time. 

Powered by that success, the Captains held their spot in both the United Soccer Coaches and D3soccer.com Top 25 polls as the top-ranked team in the nation. CNU earned 17 first-place votes, marking the second most they have ever received in the D3soccer.com regular season rankings. The Captains have been the No. 1 team in the nation in both polls since finishing the 2021 season at the top following the team's national championship finish. 

Prior to Saturday's game, ten CNU players will be honored in a Senior Night ceremony as the Captains look to add to a 14-0-1 overall record this season. Participating in their final home regular season game will be Molly Beegle, Mikaela Hardy, Abby Harrigan, Jill McDonald, Abby Pogreba, Sarah Rhiel, Sarah Smith, Caroline Suder, Emily Talotta, and Jessica Zimmermann. The group is one of the most accomplished units in CNU Athletics history, piling up a record of 52-3-5 for a winning percentage of nearly 91 percent (.908). The senior class will have the fewest losses for any class in program history and has reached the NCAA Tournament every year of their tenure, including playing a major role in the team's first national championship last year. 

For fans unable to attend the game in person, live stats and a live video webcast will be available online with links found at the women's soccer schedule on CNUsports.com. 

Christopher Newport will continue to rely on a suffocating defense that is riding a five-game shutout streak heading into Saturday's action. McDonald and Rhiel are a part of the dominant back line with Re Slater and Kate Eissenberg also playing into one of the best defenses in program history. CNU ranks sixth nationally in shutout percentage and goals-against average, limiting opponents to just five goals in 15 games played this season. 

Offensively, the Captains are the averaging nearly two goals per game this season and depth has been key, with seven different players scoring multiple goals this season. CNU has been dangerous on corner kicks, led by four assists and a goal from Rhiel.

CNU defeated Salisbury in the previous matchup this season, 2-0, with goals from Emma Ricci and Molly Beegle. The Captains improved to 18-6-3 all-time against the Sea Gulls and have won four straight in the series. CNU has suffered just one loss in the series since 2012 (11-1-2) and owns an 11-2-2 advantage in games played at home. 

Salisbury is coming off a 1-0 win against Stevenson on Tuesday night, improving to 8-8-1 on the year. The Sea Gulls got a game-winning goal from leading scorer, Autumn Dougherty, with her 11th tally of the season. She leads the team with 24 points this season while taking 62 shots. Lissette Carneiro and Kyla Holt have added eight points so far for Salisbury while Ashley Pantano has chipped in seven. 

Following the final regular season game on Saturday, the Captains will host the 2022 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference Tournament next weekend. Opening round games will be played at 4:00 and 7:00 pm on Thursday, November 3 followed by the semifinals on Friday, November 4 at the same time. The conference championship game will then be contested on Sunday, November 6 at 10:00 a.m.